Bag holder

ABSTRACT

A bag holder is provided in the form of a hoop which receives a bag and holds the top of the bag open at all times, thus allowing a person to deposit trash or other articles therein without having to repeatedly open the top of the bag. The bag is placed within the hoop with the top lip of the bag draped over the hoop rim, and the bag is held in place by a number of spring clips.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates generally to the field of bag holders, and,more particularly, relates to portable bag holders which maintain thebag in an open condition so that items can be easily deposited in thebag.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Bag holders are known to exist which hold a bag in a stationary,open position. The simplest of these would be a trash can which receivesa bag as a liner in an attempt to keep the internal walls of the trashcan clean to reduce the frequency of cleaning needed. This, however, isnot the purpose or structure of the present invention. Also, holders areknown which comprise wire frames which receive a bag and hold it openfor leaf disposal purposes.

[0005] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,086,022; 5,718,400; 5,016,844; and 4,940,201 arerepresentative of holders for bags which are known to exist.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,086,022 provides a “Shoulder-Mounted Trash BagHolder” which utilizes an interlocking dual ring and a shoulder strapfor transport of a bag.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,400 provides a “Trash Bag Holder With Handle”which employs a frame and handle member for transport of a bag.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,201 provides a “Yard Plastic Bag Holder”utilizing a vertical bag support post which is driven into the ground tohold the bag stationary in a vertical position.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,844 provides an “Open Top Trash Bag Holder”having ground engaging legs for supporting the trash bag at a selectedlocation.

[0010] No solution is known to provide a simple, light-weight devicewhich holds a bag open so as to be carried around by a person whilebeing held on or against the person's hip by one of the person's hands,thus allowing the person to work with his free hand.

[0011] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide abag holder which receives a bag in a manner such that the top of the bagis held in an open condition at all times.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a bagholder which allows a person to have at least one hand free at all timesto pick up material, litter, etc. to be deposited in the bag.

[0013] Additional advantages, features and objects of the presentinvention will become apparent through the description which follows,and is particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] According to the present invention, a bag holder is provided inthe form of a hoop which receives a bag and holds the top of the bagopen. The hoop includes a handle which extends inwardly from the hoopand to which cords are attached. Each cord has several spring clipsconnected along its length. When a bag is placed in the hoop, the top ofthe bag is draped over the hoop and the clips are attached to hold thebag to the hoop at various intervals.

[0015] The person will hold the hoop with one side of the hoop restingagainst the person's hip or body, and the other side is held by theperson's hand, thereby positioning the bag conveniently with its topopen for inserting trash or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order for the invention to become more clearly understood, itwill be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the invention bag holder, with a bagbeing secured thereto by bag holder clips and the invention being usedby a person picking up trash, the person being shown in dashed lines.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention bag holder without abag and with the spring clips shown attached at intervals along a pairof cords.

[0019]FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary detail section view showing thehoop, handle, and cord, taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0020]FIG. 1 illustrates the manner of use of the present invention bagholder 10, with a bag 20 mounted thereto. A grounds maintenance person15 is illustrated in dashed lines. Bag holder 10 is comprised of a hoop25 which, in this embodiment, is formed as a substantially circular ringof approximately 18 inches in diameter, “D”, (see FIG. 2). The diameterof hoop 25 is selected so that the person's arm 16 can easily reachacross hoop 25 to a handle 30.

[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, the rim of hoop 25 is approximately{fraction (5/16)} inch in thickness, “T”, in the preferred embodiment.Hoop 25 is preferably formed from a lightweight material or it couldalternatively be formed from a metal material for greater strength, aslong as the weight thereof is not excessive. A suitable lightweightmaterial is polyvinyl plastic resin. Hoop 25 could also be alternativelyformed as a hollow tubular ring.

[0022] Handle 30 is fixedly connected to and depends from hoop 25 alonga portion of the inner edge of hoop 25 to provide a thin, substantiallyflat member that is easily grasped by one hand 16 of person 15. Handle30 is connected to hoop 25 by welding, screws, or other convenientmeans. As seen in FIG. 1, hoop 25 is held in a secure relationshipresting on or against the hip of person 15 with a first hand 16 onhandle 30 thereby leaving the other hand 17 free. Free hand 17 can beused to manipulate a trash pick up stick 18, or other means to pick upitems for deposit in bag 20.

[0023]FIG. 2 clearly illustrates a top view of bag holder 10 of thepresent invention. Handle 30 receives a pair of cords 45, 46 ofpredetermined length, each of which is passed through a respective oneof holes 40, 41 in handle 30. As more clearly seen in the enlarged,fragmentary detail section view of FIG. 3, a first end of typical cord46 passes through respective hole 41 in handle 30. Knot 50, or othersuitable means, is formed at the end of cord 46 for preventing cord 46from being pulled through hole 41.

[0024] Cords 45, 46 are of sufficient length for each cord to reachapproximately half way around the circumference of hoop 25. Cords 45, 46are located on opposed ends of handle 30. A predetermined number(typically three per cord) of commercially available spring clips 55 arefixedly secured along the length of cords 45, 46. When not in use tosecure bag 20 to hoop 25, cords 45, 46 and spring clips 55 hang fromhandle 30. Spring clips 55 are of sufficient size to clamp bag 20 tohoop 25 when invention bag holder 10 is in use.

[0025] Referring again to FIG. 1, in using bag holder 10, a person 15will insert a bag 20 through the center of hoop 25 and fold a lipportion 20a thereof over hoop 25. Lip portion 20 a is typically foldedover hoop 25 by a length of three to ten inches. This three to ten inchlip, once bag 20 is filled and removed from hoop 25, is used to closebag 20. Bag 20 can be knotted, closed with a tie, or closed withdrawstrings provided in the mouth thereof for closing of bag 20. Oncebag 20 has been mounted on hoop 25 so that three to ten inches laps overhoop 25, cords 45, 46 are situated and clips 55 are utilized to clip bag20 to hoop 25 in several separated locations (see FIG. 1).

[0026] Referring again to FIG. 1, person 15 will now hold bag holder 10and bag 20 against his body and the other side, preferably at handle 30,in his hand 16. Such positioning will situate bag 20 conveniently withan open top for inserting trash, yard debris, or other items beingcollected therein. Once bag 20 is filled or the pick up job iscompleted, clips 55 are removed and remain suspended by cords 45, 46from handle 30, and the top of bag 20 is then closed by conventionalmeans.

[0027] While not shown, it is within the scope of the invention to makehoop 25 with a larger or smaller diameter so that various size bags 20can be accommodated. Also, hoop 25, rather than being circular in shape,could be formed elliptical, rectangular, or square, as long as aconventional bag could be mounted thereon as previously described.

[0028] The above detailed description of a preferred embodiment of thebag holder invention has set forth the best mode contemplated by theinventor for carrying out the invention at the time of filing thisapplication and is provided by way of example and not as a limitation.Accordingly, various modifications and variations, obvious to a personof ordinary skill in the art to which it pertains, are deemed to liewithin the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A bag holder comprising: (a) a hoop of sufficientdiameter to accommodate a bag so that a predetermined portion of saidbag can be draped over said hoop; (b) a handle securely affixed to saidhoop; and (c) means for clamping said bag to said hoop to maintain thetop of said bag open.
 2. A bag holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein saidhandle extends inwardly of said hoop.
 3. A bag holder as claimed inclaim 2 wherein said hoop and said handle are formed from plastic.
 4. Abag holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hoop and said handle areformed from metal.
 5. A bag holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidhoop is circular.
 6. A bag holder as claimed in claim 2 wherein saidhoop is square.
 7. A bag holder as claimed in claim 1 wherein said meansfor clamping comprises a plurality of spring clips.
 8. A bag holdercomprising: (a) a hoop of sufficient diameter to accommodate a bag sothat a predetermined portion of said bag can be draped over said hoop;(b) a handle securely affixed to said hoop; (c) a cord connected to saidhandle; and (d) a plurality of spring clips secured on said cord memberat spaced intervals for clamping said bag to said hoop once said bag hasbeen draped over said hoop.
 9. A bag holder as claimed in claim 8wherein said handle extends inwardly of said hoop.
 10. A bag holder asclaimed in claim 9 where said hoop and said handle are formed fromplastic.
 11. A bag holder as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hoop andsaid handle are formed from metal.
 12. A bag holder as claimed in claim9 wherein said hoop is circular.
 13. A bag holder as claimed in claim 9wherein said hoop is square.
 14. A bag holder comprising: (a) a hoopformed from a lightweight material and having a diameter such that theopen end of a bag can be draped over said hoop; (b) a handle formed aspart of said hoop along a selected inside edge portion thereof, saidhandle having a pair of holes formed therein, (c) a pair of cordssecured to said handle so that said cords pass through said holes insaid handle; said cords being suspended from said handle; and (d) aplurality of spring clips secured on each of said cords and adapted forclamping said bag to said hoop once said bag has been draped over saidhoop.
 15. A bag holder as claimed in claim 14 wherein said hoop and saidhandle are formed from plastic.
 16. A bag holder as claimed in claim 14wherein said hoop and said handle are formed from metal.
 17. A bagholder as claimed in claim 14 wherein said hoop is circular.
 18. A bagholder as claimed in claim 14 wherein said hoop is square.